Modular furniture system

ABSTRACT

A modular furniture system includes a base module having a cross-section of a preselected geometrical shape, a top module having a cross-section which is substantially identical to the cross-section of said preselected geometrical shape, and means for coupling said top module to said base module. Additionally, the modular furniture system may comprise an intermediate module coupled between the base module and the top module.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention is related generally to modular furniture, and more particularly to a system providing modular furniture, which is adaptable for use in many fashionable modes.

[0003] 2. Statement of the Prior Art

[0004] The words “plastic furniture” usually do not summon chic, sexy and stylish imagery to mind. Plastic furniture of the prior art typically conjures up images of an old weather-beaten lawn chair or something equally egregious. But these days, plastic furniture has improved. It is relatively inexpensive when compared to its non-manmade counterparts. And best of all, new technology means the pieces look better than ever. Now, there are so many different oils and additives and processes that manufacturers use that the pieces look and wear better. They resist fading and scratching as much as they once did.

[0005] Across the board, plastics have indeed improved considerably since their introduction via stay-cool handles on teakettles, circa 1907. It wasn't until the post-World War II era that this category of synthetic substances became omnipresent in the American home, fashioned into everything from dishware to clocks to tables. “Lightweight and easy to maintain, the new synthetics met the public's growing demand for convenience and leisure,” writes Deborah K. Dietsch in Classic Modern: Midcentury Modern at Home (Simon & Schuster 2000). “Acceptance of these forward-looking materials was quick, given their progressive association with the brave new world of science.”

[0006] Among the most popular plastics was Lucite® (a registered trademark of ICI Acrylics Inc., 7275 Goodlett Farms Parkway, Cordova, Tenn. 38018 USA), a hard, translucent type of acrylic. Like Plexiglas® (a registered trademark of Atofina Corporation 4-8 Cours Michelet 1 a Defense 10 F92091 Paris la Defense Cedex, France) and fiberglass, Lucite is an especially strong, hard substance that can be cast or molded into a host of shapes and sizes. “Collectors are very interested in the marvelous Lucite furniture from the '40s, '50s and '60s,” says Pat Campbell McLaughlin, owner of and chief designer for Steel Magnolia, a furniture maker that specializes in upscale Lucite pieces. Contemporary Italian furniture designers also seem to have an affinity for the material. In Milan last April, the company Minotti introduced a sleek collection of end tables made of inch-and-a-half-thick Lucite.

[0007] The Bellini Chair designed by Mario Bellini (recent winner of Italy's most prestigious design award) and the Bubble Club chairs and sofas by Philippe Starck for Kartell demonstrate the increasing popularity of plastic. They have a clean look, and are designed to fit the form of the body. No one puts cushions in them. Messrs. Starck and Bellini, in collaboration with William Sawaya, renowned in certain circles for his own limited-edition museum chairs, have an ongoing relationship with Heller, the international furniture maker. In 2001, Mr. Sawaya designed Heller's “Calla,” a curvaceous armchair made of fiberglass-reinforced polypropylene. The Metropolitan Museum of Art recently added Calla to its permanent collection.

[0008] Plastics are also often mixed with other media in furniture design (e.g., mixing acrylic with metals). Other known mixed media furniture include black acrylic consoles accented in gold leaf, and mirrored glass and acrylic combinations. Kartell of Italy, for example, blends substances such as chrome and polished steel, in particular, as a foil to the colored plastics. Plexi-Craft, a New York City maker of Lucite and Plexiglas furniture, maintains that the transparency of the plastics is one reason people like them so much. Since they are clear, they can be easily mixed with other things.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] A modular furniture system according to the present invention generally comprises a base module having a cross-section of a preselected geometrical shape, a top module having a cross-section which is substantially identical to the cross-section of said preselected geometrical shape, and means for coupling said top module to said base module. Additionally, the modular furniture system according to the present invention may comprise an intermediate module coupled between the base module and the top module.

[0010] The modular furniture system may also comprise a tabular module supported by the top module. Preferably, the tabular module comprises a transparent material, such as acrylic or glass. The acrylic may be substantially clear or colored.

[0011] The coupling means preferably comprises a joint, and even more preferably a blind joint. In accordance with a presently preferred embodiment of the invention, the coupling means comprises a blind butt joint. Other types of joints, such as a dado joint, a blind dado joint, a stopped joint, a dovetail joint, a blind joint, a finger joint, a half lap joint, a lock miter joint, a lock shoulder joint, a slotted mortise and tenon joint, a stub mortise and tenon joint, a through mortise and tenon joint, a rabbet joint. a scarf joint, a spline joint, and a tongue and groove joint, may also be used as the coupling means.

[0012] While a clean, crisp look is desirable with the modular furniture system according to the present invention, the joints used as coupling means may comprise a cylindrical fit joint with a clearance fit, an interference fit, or a transition fit, a location fit joint with a clearance fit, an interference fit, or a transition fit, or a shrink fit.

[0013] The base module, intermediate module, and top module of the present invention may comprise any suitable lightweight, durable material, such as glass, metal, or plastic. The glass and plastic may be substantially clear, translucent, opaque, or colored. The metal may be polished, burnished, or otherwise include a decorative surface treatment. Individual faces of such modules may also be joined together using any one of the appropriate joints disclosed herein above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014]FIG. 1A shows a first embodiment of a base module according to the present invention, which has a generally square-shaped cross-section;

[0015]FIG. 1B shows the base module of FIG. 1A, which is coupled to a first embodiment of an intermediate module according to the present invention;

[0016]FIG. 1C shows a first embodiment of a top module, which is coupled to the base and intermediate modules of FIG. 1B and an additional intermediate module according to the present invention;

[0017]FIG. 2 shows a first embodiment of the modular furniture system of the present invention, comprising a single top module;

[0018]FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the modular furniture system of the present invention, comprising a base module, an intermediate module, a top module, and a transparent surface supported by the top module;

[0019]FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment of the modular furniture system of the present invention, comprising a plurality of base modules, each of which has a corresponding top module coupled thereto, supporting a bed platform, a mattress, and a plurality of pillows;

[0020]FIG. 5 shows a fourth embodiment of the modular furniture system of the present invention, comprising a base module, a top module, and a transparent surface supported by the top module;

[0021]FIG. 6 shows a fifth embodiment of the modular furniture system of the present invention, comprising a base module, a pair of intermediate modules, and a top module, together forming a pedestal supporting a work of art;

[0022]FIG. 7 shows a second embodiment of a top module according to the present invention, which has a generally rectangular-shaped cross-section;

[0023]FIG. 8 shows a pair of generally rectangular-shaped base modules supporting a plurality of substantially similarly shaped intermediate modules and a plurality of shelves coupled there between and thereupon;

[0024]FIG. 9 shows a pair of generally rectangular-shaped base modules supporting a corresponding pair of substantially similarly shaped intermediate modules and a single shelf coupled there upon;

[0025]FIG. 10 shows an example of the coupling means between an intermediate module and a shelf;

[0026]FIG. 11 shows an alternative embodiment of an intermediate module having a door hingedly attached thereto;

[0027]FIG. 12 shows a further example of the coupling means among a first intermediate module, a shelf having additional coupling means and second intermediate module adapted to be coupled atop of the shelf;

[0028]FIG. 13 shows a third embodiment of a top module according to the present invention, which has a generally circular-shaped cross-section;

[0029]FIG. 14 shows a fourth embodiment of a top module according to the present invention, which has a generally hexagonal-shaped cross-section;

[0030]FIG. 15 shows a sixth embodiment of the modular furniture system of the present invention, comprising a base module having a generally circular-shaped cross-section, the top module of FIG. 13, and a transparent surface supported by the top module;

[0031]FIG. 16 shows a seventh embodiment of the modular furniture system of the present invention, comprising a base module having a generally hexagonal-shaped cross-section, and the top module of FIG. 14, together forming a shorter pedestal supporting a plurality of curios;

[0032]FIG. 17 shows an eighth embodiment of the modular furniture system of the present invention, comprising a base module having a generally circular-shaped cross-section, a corresponding pair of substantially similarly shaped intermediate modules, the top module of FIG. 13, together forming another pedestal supporting a work of art; and

[0033]FIG. 18 shows a ninth embodiment of the modular furniture system of the present invention, comprising a base module having a generally hexagonal-shaped cross-section, a substantially similarly shaped intermediate module, the top module of FIG. 14, and a transparent surface supported by the top module.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0034] Referring now to the drawings, wherein like characters and numerals designate like or corresponding parts through each of the several views, there is shown in Figs. 1A-1C a modular furniture system 10 according to the present invention. System 10 generally comprises a base module 12, a top module 14, and means 16 for coupling the top module 14 to the base module 12.

[0035] In order to provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance, the base module 12 is formed to have a cross-section of a preselected geometrical shape. Base module 12 shown in Figs. 1A-1C has a substantially square cross-section, but other cross-sections are disclosed herein and fall within the scope of the present invention. For example, modular furniture systems 10 having a substantially rectangular shaped cross-section are shown in FIGS. 3-9, those having a substantially circular shaped cross-section are shown in FIGS. 13, 15 and 16, and those having a substantially hexagonal shaped cross-section are shown in FIG. 14, 16, and 18. Other modular furniture systems 10 having a substantially square shaped cross-section are shown in FIGS. 2 and 10-12. It should understood, however, that modular furniture systems 10 according to the present invention may have any preselected geometrical shape, including but not limited to an ellipse, an oval, a pentagon, an octagon, and a polygon.

[0036] Referring again to FIGS. 1A-1C, it can be seen that the top module 14 has a cross-section which is substantially identical to the cross-section of the preselected geometrical shape, and means 16 for coupling the top module 14 to the base module. Additionally, the modular furniture system 10 according to the present invention may comprise one or more intermediate modules 18 coupled between the base module 12 and the top module 14. In those cases where one or more intermediate modules 18 are incorporated within a system 10, each of those intermediate modules 18 will also include a coupling means 16 at its top and bottom.

[0037] The modular furniture system may also comprise a tabular module 20 (see, e.g., FIGS. 3, 5, 15, and 18) supported by the top module 14. Preferably, the tabular module 20 comprises a transparent material, such as acrylic (e.g., Lucite, Plexiglas or the like) or glass. The acrylic may be substantially clear or colored.

[0038] Coupling means 16 preferably comprises a joint, and even more preferably a blind joint. In accordance with a presently preferred embodiment of the invention, the coupling means 16 comprises a blind butt joint. Other types of joints, such as a dado joint, a blind dado joint, a stopped joint, a dovetail joint, a blind joint, a finger joint, a half lap joint, a lock miter joint, a lock shoulder joint, a slotted mortise and tenon joint, a stub mortise and tenon joint, a through mortise and tenon joint, a rabbet joint, a scarf joint, a spline joint, and a tongue and groove joint, may also be used as the coupling means.

[0039] While a clean, crisp look is desirable with the modular furniture system 10 according to the present invention, the joints used as coupling means 16 may comprise conventional cylindrical fit joints with a clearance fit, an interference fit, or a transition fit, location fit joints with a clearance fit, an interference fit, or a transition fit, or shrink fit joints. The particular selection of any one of the above-described joints will depend, of course, on the application of the modular furniture system 10. As a bookcase, for example, stability and strength is desirable and a shrink fit joint might be preferable. If the base 12, intermediate 18, and top 14 modules are to be used in various interchangeable combinations, it might be desirable to a location fit joint.

[0040] The base module 12, intermediate module 18, and top module 14 of the present invention may comprise any suitable lightweight, durable material, such as glass, metal, or plastic. The glass and plastic may be substantially clear, translucent, opaque, or colored. The metal may be polished, burnished, or otherwise include a decorative surface treatment. Individual faces of such modules may also be joined together using any one of the appropriate joints disclosed herein above.

[0041] There are many ways of fastening the faces of the modules 12, 14, 18 together. Some are purely functional such as butt joints, while others are functional as well as decorative. Generally, joints of many kinds can be used as the coupling means according to the present invention. Such foreseeable joints include, but are not limited to butt, dado, blind dado or stopped joint, dovetail, blind, finger, half lap, lock miter, lock shoulder, mortise and tenon (i.e., slotted, stub, or through), rabbet, scarf, spline, or tongue and groove joints. Such joints may also suitably comprise a “lock joint” of the type that is an interlocking machine joint between two members.

[0042] A “butt joint” is a joint formed by square edge surfaces (e.g., ends, edges, faces) coming together, such as an end butt joint or an edge butt joint. A “dado joint” is a rectangular groove, typically across the grain of a wood member, into which the end of the joining member is inserted. A butt joint is also known as a housed joint, variations of which include “dado and tenon”, and “stopped or blind dado” joints. A blind or stopped dado joint is one in which the dado is not visible when the joint is completed. A “dovetail joint” is a joint formed by inserting a projecting wedge-shaped member (i.e., a dovetail tenon) into a correspondingly shaped cut-out member (i.e., a dovetail mortise), variations of which include the “dovetail dado”, and the “blind dovetail dado”. A “dovetail, blind joint” is a dovetail joint that is not visible when the joint is completed. A “doweled joint” is a joint using “dowels” (i.e., doweled construction in which, typically, a wood peg or a metal screw used to strengthen a wood joint); also “doweled edge joint”.

[0043] A “miter joint” typically comprises the joining of two members at an angle that bisects the angle of junction. A “lock joint miter” is a miter joint employing a tongue and groove to further strengthen it. A shoulder joint miter” is any type of a miter joint that presents a shoulder, such as a lock miter or a splined miter. A “blind joint mortise and tenon” is a mortise and tenon joint in which the tenon does not extend through the mortise and does not remain visible once the joint is completed, also “blind tenoned”. A “slotted joint mortise and tenon” is a mortise and tenon right angle joint in which the tenon is visible on two edges once the joint is completed. A “stub joint mortise and tenon” is a short tenon inserted in a plow or groove. A “through joint mortise and tenon” is a mortise and tenon joint in which the inserted tenon extends completely through the mortise and the end of the tenon remains visible once the joint is completed.

[0044] A “plow” is a rectangular groove or slot of three surfaces cut parallel with the grain of a wood member, in contrast to a dado, which is cut across the grain. A “rabbet joint” is a joint formed by the rabbet(s) (i.e., a rectangular cut on the edge of a member; a “rabbet” has two surfaces and a “plow” has three) on one or both members; also rabbeted edge joint; rabbeted right angle joint. A “scarf joint” is an end joint formed by having the two ends of the members beveled to form sloping plane surfaces. A “spline joint” is a joint formed by the use of a “spline”. A spline is a thin, narrow strip, usually of plywood, inserted into matching grooves which have been machined in abutting edges of panels or lumber to insure a flush alignment and secure joint. Splines customarily run the entire length of the joint. A “tenon” is a projecting tongue-like part of a wood member to be inserted into a slot (mortise) of another member to form a mortise and tenon joint. A “tongue and groove joint” is a joint formed by the insertion of the “tongue” (i.e., a projection on the edge or end of a wood member that is inserted into the groove or plow of a similar size to form a joint) of one member into the “groove” of the other.

[0045] The materials used in a modular furniture system according to the present invention should exhibit first class workmanship. In architectural millwork, for example, this represents the finest or highest class of workmanship for the grade specified The modular furniture system according to the present invention should, thus, be free of manufacturing and natural defects covered under conventional grading rules, defined as but not limited to the following:

[0046] A. All joints shall be tight, true, flush, and securely glued where required by WIC GRADE rules.

[0047] B. All parts shall be uniform, square, level, plumb, flush, and in alignment.

[0048] C. Plastic or veneer surfaces and joints shall be tight and show no sign of delamination or exposed glue.

[0049] D. The face veneer of hardwood plywood shall be of sufficient thickness so as not to permit show-through of under ply after sanding.

[0050] E. Nails or staples (where permitted) on exposed or semi-exposed surfaces shall be countersunk. Staples shall run parallel with the grain.

[0051] F. Nails or staples are not permitted on exposed surfaces of plastic.

[0052] G. All nail, staple or screw holes for factory finished or plastic covered millwork shall be filled with color compatible material.

[0053] H. All nail, staple or screw holes for unfinished millwork shall be filled by the finisher prior to applying finish.

[0054] I. Hardware:

[0055] 1. Shall be neatly installed with no tear-outs.

[0056] 2. All screws shall be squarely in place in hinges, catches, latches, pulls, locks, adjustable shelf standards, etc.

[0057] 3. All cabinet hardware, including pulls, hinges, and drawer slides must be adjusted for smooth operation.

[0058] 4. Door and drawer gaps must be uniform and shall show a maximum clearance between adjacent doors or drawers, as conventionally known.

[0059] J. Exposed or semi-exposed surfaces shall be free of:

[0060] 1. Splits

[0061] 2. Torn or chipped plastic

[0062] 3. Torn or chipped wood grain

[0063] 4. Glue and over-spray of adhesive

[0064] 5. Tool marks

[0065] 6. Gouges

[0066] 7. Dents

[0067] 8. Nick.

[0068] 9. Over/under filing

[0069] 10. Sand-troughs

[0070] 11. Cross sanding

[0071] 12. Visible machining defects

[0072] 13. Sharp edges of metal, plastic, or wood

[0073] 14. Poorly fitted edging

[0074] Other variations of the modular furniture system 10 are shown in FIGS. 3-18. For example, FIG. 3 shows an occasional or small dining table formed from a base module 12, one intermediate module 18, and a top module 14, which supports a transparent tabular module 20. FIG. 4 shows a bed or settee formed from a plurality of base modules 12 and intermediate modules 18, which support a tabular module 20 that in turn supports a mattress or cushion 22 and a plurality of pillows 24. It should be readily apparent that, instead of the plurality of intermediate modules 18, a plurality of top modules 14 could equally be used to support the tabular module 20 in the bed or settee. However, in such an arrangement, the tabular module 20 could shift in use. FIG. 5 shows an end or coffee table formed from a base module 12, top module 14, and tabular module 20. FIG. 6 shows a pedestal formed from a base module 12, pair of intermediate modules 18, and top module 14.

[0075]FIG. 7 shows a rectangular shaped top module 14 for use in forming bookshelves as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. For example, a bookshelf having a plurality of shelves is shown in FIG. 8. The bookshelf according to Fig, 8 is formed from a plurality of base modules 12 and a corresponding plurality of top modules 14, which are interspersed by a plurality of tabular modules 20. A shorter bookshelf formed in the same manner is shown in FIG. 9.

[0076] Alternatives to the modules and construction methods described herein above are shown in FIGS. 10-12. In FIG. 10, for example, the modular furniture system comprises a base module 12 and an intermediate module 18 coupled together as before. The tabular module 20′ of FIG. 10 includes a coupling means 16, which mates with the coupling means atop of intermediate module 18. In this manner, tabular module 20′ is less likely to move or shift in use. As a further alternative, FIG. 12 shows a modular furniture system formed from a base module 12, and a pair of intermediate modules 18. In between the intermediate modules 18, a tabular module 20″ is held firmly in place by it pair of coupling means 16, which engage corresponding coupling means 16 of the intermediate modules 18. FIG. 11 illustrates another intermediate module 18′, which includes a door 28 that is hingedly attached to the intermediate module 18′. Of course, similar doors 28 may be provided with the top modules 14 according to the present invention.

[0077]FIGS. 13-18 illustrate further embodiments of the present invention. Each of those embodiments is formed in much the same way as the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1-12. Such further embodiments, however, show how the modular furniture system of the present invention is equally applicable to most, if not all, geometrical shapes.

[0078] The modular furniture system of the present invention is quickly assembled, conveniently reconfigured, and usable in a multitude of intriguing designs. Being lightweight, yet strong, the modular furniture system is also sleek and elegant. The examples shown and described herein above are not meant to limit the scope of the invention. For example, in addition to doors provided with various modules, the modular furniture system can include drawers. Accordingly, modifications and variations according to the present invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims. 

What I claim as my invention is:
 1. A modular furniture system, comprising: a base module having a cross-section of a preselected geometrical shape; a top module having a cross-section which is substantially identical to the cross-section of said preselected geometrical shape; and means for coupling said top module to said base module.
 2. The modular furniture system according to claim 1, further comprising an intermediate module coupled between said base module and said top module.
 3. The modular furniture system according to claim 1, further comprising a tabular module supported by said top module.
 4. The modular furniture system according to claim 3, wherein said tabular module comprises a transparent material.
 5. The modular furniture system according to claim 4, wherein said transparent material comprises an acrylic.
 6. The modular furniture system according to claim 5, wherein said acrylic comprises a substantially clear acrylic.
 7. The modular furniture system according to claim 5, wherein said acrylic comprises a colored acrylic.
 8. The modular furniture system according to claim 4, wherein said transparent material comprises a glass.
 9. The modular furniture system according to claim 1, wherein said coupling means comprises a joint.
 10. The modular furniture system according to claim 9, wherein said joint comprises a blind joint.
 11. The modular furniture system according to claim 9, wherein said joint comprises a joint selected from the group consisting of a butt joint, a dado joint, a blind dado joint, a stopped joint, a dovetail joint, a blind joint, a finger joint, a half lap joint, a lock miter joint, a lock shoulder joint, a slotted mortise and tenon joint, a stub mortise and tenon joint, a through mortise and tenon joint, a rabbet joint. a scarfjoint, a spline joint, and a tongue and groove joint.
 12. The modular furniture system according to claim 9, wherein said joint comprises a cylindrical fit joint.
 13. The modular furniture system according to claim 12, wherein said cylindrical fit joint comprises a clearance fit.
 14. The modular furniture system according to claim 12, wherein said cylindrical fit joint comprises an interference fit.
 15. The modular furniture system according to claim 12, wherein said cylindrical fit joint comprises a transition fit.
 16. The modular furniture system according to claim 9, wherein said joint comprises a location fit joint.
 17. The modular furniture system according to claim 16, wherein said location fit joint comprises a clearance fit.
 18. The modular furniture system according to claim 16, wherein said location fit joint comprises an interference fit.
 19. The modular furniture system according to claim 16, wherein said location fit joint comprises a transition fit.
 20. The modular furniture system according to claim 9, wherein said joint comprises a shrink fit.
 21. The modular furniture system according to claim 1, wherein said preselected geometrical shape is selected from the group consisting of a circle, an ellipse, an oval, a square, a rectangle, a pentagon, a hexagon, an octagon, and a polygon.
 22. The modular furniture system according to claim 1, wherein said base module comprises a material selected from the group consisting of glass, metal, and plastic.
 23. The modular furniture system according to claim 1, wherein said top module comprises a material selected from the group consisting of glass, metal, and plastic.
 24. The modular furniture system according to claim 2, wherein said intermediate module comprises a material selected from the group consisting of glass, metal, and plastic. 